Mukesh Chhabra Delivers Heartfelt Review for Ikkis, Applauds Dharmendra, Jaideep Ahlawat and New Talent

A special screening of Ikkis which was a major event and star-studded to the max with many famous Bollywood personalities present was held in Mumbai on Monday, December 29.Famous casting director Mukesh Chhabra expressed his views about the war drama Ikkis, which is going to be released after just a few days, by sharing his thoughts on X (previously Twitter) after a special screening in Mumbai. Mukesh Chhabra, in his emotional post, called the movie “made purely from the heart” and praised the calmness and the truthfulness of the storytelling, which stays with the audience for a long time even after the film is over. He paid tribute to the veteran actor Dharmendra and mentioned the grace and the depth that he brought to the character and the emotional aspect of seeing what is probably the legendary actor’s last performance. Chhabra said that the movie indeed breaks the heart as it is the last of Dharmendra and added, “You’ve left us with something deeply emotional and important. You will be missed, sir.”

Accolades for Performances by the Cast

Chhabra praised not only Dharmendra but also other co-stars, who were included, like Jaideep Ahlawat. He remarked, “Hats off to Jaideep Ahlawat-I really didn’t expect this, and I am happy to be surprised.” The casting director also pointed out the film’s new talents, especially Agastya Nanda and Simar Bhatia, whose chemistry on screen he considered to be so attractive, and he even talked about Agastya’s innocence and sincerity enveloping his performance. Chhabra also gave credit to other cast members like Vivan Shah and Sikandar Kher, which led to a strong ensemble for the movie. Sriram Raghavan, the film’s director, is credited as being the driving force for the film’s cinematic brilliance and emotional depth.

A Tribute to Dharmendra’s Legacy
Ikkis carries even more emotional weight given its significance as the final cinematic appearance of Dharmendra, who passed away earlier in 2025. The storyline of the film revolves around Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, who was one of India’s youngest recipients of the Param Vir Chakra, and features Dharmendra as his father in a key role. Chhabra’s review reflected the mood of the screening, where a number of the audience members were sharing the feelings of nostalgia and paying tribute to the late actor’s legacy. Among the celebrities who were there at the event were Sunny Deol and Salman Khan, who looked very much affected, which highlighted the strong bonds that were created through the cinema industry over the years.

Honoring the Director and Storytelling
Not only were the acting performances in the movie highlighted, but Mukesh Chhabra also had good words to say for director Sriram Raghavan’s way of handling Ikkis; he called him a masterful storyteller who made a movie that seemed very much his own. Critics and the spectators have unanimously acknowledged the movie’s power to interweave war’s grand but at the same time common human relationships, which is a skill that has increased the pleasure of watching it. The story’s emotional range and truthfulness have drawn early cheers, thus indicating that Ikkis may have a strong impact on both the critics and the audience when it finally shows up.

Anticipation Ahead of Release

Ikkis, which is scheduled to come out officially on January 1st, 2026, has, nevertheless, already created a lot of excitement among the industry and fans alike. The tragic aspect of the story, a high level of acting, and getting in touch with the feelings of the last role of Dharmendra have all contributed to the film being one of the most anticipated Bollywood releases of the year.